Thursday, July 28, 2011
Jane Eyre and How to Read Literature Like a Professor---Question #1
Did you notice any of the patterns Foster analyzed and discussed in How to Read Literature Like a Professor while reading Jane Eyre? Which specific patterns, elements, characterizations from Foster's book can you connect to Jane Eyre?
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Foster talks about the use of rain or whether in “How to Read Literature Like a Professor” and how it can be used to present a deeper meaning or perhaps foreshadow something. This concept is put to use in Brontë’s work (in particular the chapter where Jane arrives at Lowood). On her arrival the scene is gloomy, rainy, and quite dismal. This perhaps foreshadows the harsh life that the school will present to Jane and is perhaps a great example of the idea in Foster’s chapter, “It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow.”
ReplyDelete-Bill
weather*
ReplyDeleteVery good connection Bill! Charlotte Bronte definitely adds the gloomy weather to reflect the harsh conditions and Jane's life at the Lowood School. As you continue to read, you'll notice that Bronte utilizes the weather in many scenes to reflect a character's inner conflict or foreshadow additional events. This is also a Gothic Literature element.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for a great connection!
Ms. Stokes
Great comment Bill! I didnt think about it until you brought that up. It does make sence though. I think that's a great observation that I totally over saw.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Shannon! I had never thought of that connection, or as weather as a connector to something deeper in general. I think it's great that you saw it and pointed it out! As I continue to read books in the future, I will definitely look for connections like that!
ReplyDelete-Catherine.
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ReplyDeleteI believe that Foster's book; How To Read Literature Like A Professor, isone of themost useful books i have i read in my time. It really has helped me thinkabout how to evaluate my readings. Now in terms of Jane Eyreand concepts of Foster there are many elements of his proven true by this novel. For one it does feel as though every piece of literature has the same characters in it. In Jane Eyre the characters are so; Jane=Princess/hero. Mr. Rochester=Prince. Mrs. Reed= wicked stepmother. Mr. Rochester's wife=horrid vilain.
ReplyDeleteKnowing the familiarness of these characters helps the reader relate more to them. I also enjoy, from foster, how he says everything has some relation of shakespeare. I find this very true and in Jane Eyre i feel it relates most to Romeo and Juliet. Though i have not read this piece from shakespeare i have heard what it is about. Two lovers who cannot be together and in the end die from the grievings of their love. Though in jane eyre the characters donot die they do seperate for fear of not being able to be together and almost die from the carlessness of their grievings. But a happy ending with them together. I also really enjoy the weather comments made above. Those are just as true as anything. Its the same way within movies. Atmosphere is everything.
In "How to Read Literature like a Professor," Foster explains that eating a meal with another human beings is a sign of communion and peace offerings. When Mr. Rochester returns home he invites Jane to eat dinner with him. This is one of the first signs that he views Jane affectionately. He doesn't just think of her as a servant, he wants to share the personal experience of eating a meal together in order to learn about a woman he is fascinated with.
ReplyDeleteThere is one point in Jane Eyre where she is talking about one of her journeys and how it was so long that she traveled 50 miles one day, stayed in a hotel, and traveled another 50 miles all the next day. One of the techniques that Foster talked about was to not read with your own eyes. That is important at this part because it was easy for me to laugh at this, because it is kind of ridiculous that it took ALL day for her to travel 50 miles. But then as a reader one has to "put on" eyes that relate with the time period and it makes a lot more sense.
ReplyDeleteThe Patterns in Jane Eyre that Foster tells us to look for is how the violence is an important part of the story. The violence is used as a theme to transcend Jane from a Girlto a woman. As she gets older, the violence gets worse: from her abuse to the fatal attraction Bertha uses to torment her and Rochester. We see her mature as she handles all of this since the violence serves as a guide to her maturity thru life.
ReplyDeleteIn his book, foster discusses quests as being adventures that change and usually turn into a journey of self discovery. In the book Jane Eyre, Jane originally leaves "home" to get away from her aunt and her cousin's. However, her moving eventually turns into a life long journey toward finding herself and who she truely is. Jane never really stopped moving to different places untill she settled down with mr. Rochester in the end of the book, and she realized that he was her purpose in life.
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